There are plenty who believe Jack Wilshere’s injury history presents too much of a risk in his case to be a part of England’s squad at the World Cup.

It’s a legitimate argument given Wilshere’s history and the fact that Gareth Southgate can take only 23 players to Russia.

Wilshere has plenty of talent and is England’s most creative option to play in midfield. But as Alan Shearer recently pointed out, it’s a gamble that could very easily backfire.

"He's a good player, there's no doubt about that, but you have to rely on players when it matters,” Shearer recently told Coral.

“You have to be able to rely on someone to play the first game, and then four or five days later play in the second game, and then go again.”

Wilshere faces competition to earn a spot in the squad but one man who believes he can work himself into Southgate’s plans is Frank Lampard.

The Chelsea legend spoke from past experience about how an impressive run of form to close the season out could see Wilshere on the plane.

Lampard: 'The door is always open'

“It was unfortunate he missed the last two friendlies through injury, but I believe a run of form will get Wilshere on the plane,” Lampard said in his column for the Evening Standard. “In terms of games left in the season, there is still a long way to go and a lot can happen.

“Just look at Dele Alli. There was a lot of talk about his England place last week and now it’s changed because of what he did against Chelsea.

“It’s up for grabs for everybody. For example, ahead of Euro 2004, I’d hardly played an England game, but I finished the campaign well at Chelsea and ended up starting in Portugal. That was great timing for me.

“The door is always open for someone who makes those kind of late runs of personal form.”

England’s squad in Portugal included Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole, so for Sven-Goran Eriksson to play him in every match shows how well he had to play.

Lampard believes Wilshere will make it

And does Lampard believe Wilshere will be in the squad? Yes.

“On talent alone and the way he’s played this season, then I think he will make the squad because he offers a continuity in midfield that England are not flushed with,” the 39-year-old added.